heeling/ does this affect the bilge pump?

[John Baker]

Yesterday was a glorious sailing day on San Francisco Bay. Steady breezes of 20-22 knots. Solana was well-heeled, not quite rail down. I went below and noticed that the bilge pump was cycling. I had never noticed this before but I am not usually below when heeled. The throughhulls were OK and there did not appear to be any more than the small amount of water that is usually in the bilge. We came around to a run and as soon as the boat was upright the bilge pump stopped running. There was no evidence of new water entering the bilge. Does anyone have experience with this? Does heeling cause the bilge pump switch to turn on?
John Baker
"Solana" CD31



micaelaf@earthlink.net

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

John,

It might if the pump and switch were installed facing the wrong way. The switch should be fore and aft. If it is athwartships, when the boat heels one way, port or starboard, the switch could make intermittent contact and cycle the pump. I'd just take a look at it, and fix it in place correctly if it is installed wrong.

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30

[Bob Pence]

Yesterday was a glorious sailing day on San Francisco Bay. Steady breezes of 20-22 knots. Solana was well-heeled, not quite rail down. I went below and noticed that the bilge pump was cycling. I had never noticed this before but I am not usually below when heeled. The throughhulls were OK and there did not appear to be any more than the small amount of water that is usually in the bilge. We came around to a run and as soon as the boat was upright the bilge pump stopped running. There was no evidence of new water entering the bilge. Does anyone have experience with this? Does heeling cause the bilge pump switch to turn on?

Check the switch. Is it fastened securely so it remains in the same position, parallel to the bottom of the bilge, when heeled as when upright? Once the "SWITCH" is heeling more than 45 degrees it can lift and activate the pump.

John Baker
"Solana" CD31

sixpence@dmv.com

[John Sill]

I have the same problem with my 31. Sea water is definitely coming back down the hose and the cycle repeats until we change tacks or the crew leaves the cockpit. This is in spite of the fact that an anti-syphon loop is installed. The original installation had a manually activated fresh water pump mounted in the engine compartment. Maybe there was a good reason!

I'm also open to suggestions.



jesill@erols.com

[Jerry J Commisso]

What I did on my boat works very well,I mounted the pump at the bottom of the bilge well. I than took the float switch and mounted it at the top of the well right were the keel drops off into the deep part of the well. I mounted a manual/auto toggel switch so I can empty the bilge as often as I want. With this setup the float switch is always dry. If there is ever a leak the float switch will turn on the pump long before the water gets to the cabin sole or the engine. That amount of water temporarily in the well will not be a problem. Every time I'am on the boat I run the pump to remove any water. Most of the time there is not enough water to pump out,whatever is in the hose drains back down. The pump is really there if you have a problem. The little amount of water that you normally get is easily pumped out by turning the pump on with the manual switch.

Jerry J Commisso
CD 30 CHELSEA ROSE

I have the same problem with my 31. Sea water is definitely coming back down the hose and the cycle repeats until we change tacks or the crew leaves the cockpit. This is in spite of the fact that an anti-syphon loop is installed. The original installation had a manually activated fresh water pump mounted in the engine compartment. Maybe there was a good reason!

I'm also open to suggestions.

liasboat@aol.com

[Richard G]

To eliminate the problem of pump continuing to kick in caused by water returning into the bilge after being pumped out, install a check valve in the line just in front of the bilge pump.



Aldajon@aol.com